Author: Amber Van Schooneveld

The tiny house movement that’s sweeping North America is actually nothing new. People have always found peace in the simplicity of tiny homes. Here are some remarkable photos of tiny homes from communities where we work in the developing world.

Synthia, a 17-year-old Compassion-assisted student from Kenya, joined with four classmates to develop an app to end female genital mutilation – and won second place at Google’s 2017 Technovation Challenge.

Our time and resources are finite, yet there seems to be infinite need. We want to be kind to people in poverty and we want to do it wisely. Here are a few things to consider as you struggle through this question for yourself.

Working in poverty alleviation, I can feel the need to explain and justify the nice things I have. I worry that people will judge me or will judge the organization I work for if I don’t drive a junker and get my clothes on consignment. But I’ve come to realize that my justifications are creating a culture — a culture around me of implied judgment of the choices of others by my constant need to justify my own purchases and assets.

Picture centuries past. There was plenty of hardship to go around. But without modern communication the breadth of our knowledge of the ills in the world might have only spread as far as the horizon. Now, we can know everything – at least it feels like that. Every bad deed done in every corner of the world is lifted before our eyes.

Over and over in the book of Daniel, we see that he had no interest in self-promotion—even to the point of turning down jewelry, robes and high positions (Daniel 5:17). His sole purpose was to bring honor and praise to the one true God, repeatedly pointing the Babylonian kings to Him.

The framework of donor as hero and the poor as thankful charity cases can do long-term damage. It subtly whispers to a person in poverty, “The donors are special; they have the power. You’re poor and different from them.” This can create a mindset of dependency that says, “I can’t do it myself; I’m dependent on someone else to do things for me.”

We’re getting so excited for Compassion Sunday on April 26th! This is a day when thousands of children living in poverty will gain a sponsor and new opportunities for their lives. But we know that hosting Compassion Sunday can be a little intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. Never fear! We’ve asked a few people who are old pros at hosting Compassion Sunday what they would like to share with people who are thinking of hosting their first Compassion Sunday.

Compassion Sunday is a day for churches across America to share the Bible’s message of caring for those in need and to give people the opportunity to sponsor a child. But even more than that, it’s a day when churches in America come together in solidarity with churches in the developing world.

As a U.S. citizen, I’ve heard many reactions to my nationality as I travel to other places. A few gems: “We love Americans!” “We hate Americans!” “You can print your own money at an ATM.” “You’re all fat.” People have ample opportunities to see the United States in news and entertainment, so they have ample opportunities to form opinions of us — for better or for worse.